Sunday, May 5, 2013

The Suite Room by Casa Verde

A rather classy looking invitation for an exclusive lunch came in the (e)mail. What an honor to be invited! But what shall I wear? I can't go in my usual attire for this lunch. I have to don my best (and only) suit and red boots.

I comb my mustache one more time before entering The Suite Room. I look at the door handle and wonder why it has a card slot above it. I dismiss the thought and turn the handle. It's unlocked. I step in and see striped wallpapered walls, curtains and drapes, a chandelier, a fireplace, a TV, a bureau (desk) with a mirror above it, a closet, six tables with two comfy-looking chairs each (two of the chairs look like open luggages), and a counter that looks like a bed with a headboard. Ahhh... so it's a suite room. This is The Suite Room.

I wanted to kick off my shoes and slip my feet into the bedroom slippers I found on a chair. But, no, my stinky feet might ruin everybody's lunch.

The exclusive lunch started off with the salads: Mixed greens with grapes and candied nuts, dressed with strawberry vinaigrette; Caesar salad; and fresh Thai salad with peanut dressing. The salad with the strawberry vinaigrette was unbelievably delicious. The fresh and crunchy greens went well with the sweet dressing. The Caesar salad had lettuce, bacon, eggs, croutons, parmesan, and Caesar dressing. I have always thought Caesar salads were boring, but The Suite Room's version changed my mind. The fresh Thai salad with peanut dressing? A wonderful mix of textures. I was loving all the salads (mind you, I am not a salad eater).

Next up: Soup. Classic mushroom soup, Asian beef and shrimp noodle, and cream of squash. The mushroom soup was creamy but not overpowering. The cream of squash was thick and equally good. Of the three, I like the Asian beef and shrimp noodle. It was a beautiful mix of flavors.

Three different appetizers were served next: Meatballs in stewed tomato sauce, Cajun style skewered shrimps in a blanket, and Asian style sweet and spicy chicken wings. The chicken wings were tender, its skin slightly crunchy. It was mildly spicy with a hint of sweetness. The peppery, slightly spicy flavor of the skewered shrimps engulfed my mouth. The meatballs were excellent. Soft and tomatoey, the best meatballs I've had!

We've only just begun and I was already giddy with happiness! What else could be in store for us guests? Sandwiches. Tuna salad sandwich, chicken salad sandwich, and tacos. The tuna and chicken salad sandwiches were what I expected them to be. The tacos would cater to the Filipino taste buds: its sauce was sweet.

Left to right: Tuna salad sandwich, chicken salad sandwich, tacos

This is not the day to be stuffing myself with everything on the table for there's more: Pasta. Spinach and ricotta cheese ravioli in tomato cream, bacon and mushroom pasta in pesto cream sauce, spaghetti and sausage in tomato sauce, and shrimp fettuccine in Alfredo sauce. Of the four, I was expecting to like the spinach and ricotta cheese ravioli, but I couldn't really taste the spinach in it (I wanted the spinach!). I like the bacon and mushroom pesto pasta best.

Clockwise from top left: spaghetti and sausage in tomato sauce, bacon and mushroom
pasta in pesto cream sauce, spinach and ricotta cheese ravioli in tomato cream, and
shrimp fettuccine in Alfredo sauce

They kept feeding us really good food that I am giving up describing each. Let the photos do the talking. I have run out of synonyms for delicious.

On to the entrées...pan fried salmon in citrus butter sauce with mushroom risotto, skewered surf and turf with Cajun butter, 1/2 citrus herb roasted chicken, and baked cream dory. Large servings. I am torn between the salmon and the dory (I am biased towards fish that day).

Their ala carte menu consists of Australian beef rib eye steak; Australian beef striploin steak; pork kalbi with lettuce, garlic, and soybean paste; and fresh corned beef with horseradish sauce paired with cabbage, potato and carrots. Steak lovers, this is the place for you! Juicy steaks for just Php450. Taking a bite of pork kalbi reminded me of samgyeopsal. As for the corned beef, call me ignorant, I really wasn't expecting corned beef to look
like that (the only corned beef I have seen were in cans hahaha).

Everything was superb. Plus, it was capped off
with perfect desserts. Green tea ice cake, Rainbow cake, and frozen caramel macchiato. How my sweet tooth jumped for joy! I love green tea ice cream so thumbs up for the green tea ice cake. The Rainbow cake was too beautiful to eat...but I just had to eat it and eat it and eat it. The frozen caramel macchiato was love at first bite. I ooohhed and aaahhed as it melted in my mouth with bits of caramel lingering on my tongue.

In my head, I was grinning from ear to ear and rubbing my palms with glee. This was the best meal I have ever had! Since that day, I have been spreading the word to every person I know to try The Suite Room. The Suite Room and Café Georg are now my favorites.

PS How will eating at The Suite Room bust your budget? Prices go from Php150 and up. You may opt to get a set menu (half portions of salad or soup, entrée, and dessert) for Php500.